The Doctor and Her Community

(A Short Story about COVID-19)

I have never come home so distressed than ever about what’s happening until now. Everything is a mess, and
no one ever seems to listen and understand. I awake and find myself in the same position and routine as I was in the last
few months: I woke up feeling the warm sunlight on my visage which, yes, indicated a sunny day, yet I knew in my bones
that I felt exhausted, numb, and terrified. Hospitals are getting more and more crowded each day; medical workers are
rushing frantically in and out of different rooms, equipment, supplies are becoming scarce, and the red line that stretched
across my nose bridge to my cheeks from the countless masks I have worn are not even bothering me anymore. Sleep is
not even a choice. You either take off that thick protective clothing and equipment that you’re wearing and quit or
continue your oath to save lives. And as of now, I am beginning to lean on the first choice no matter how heartbreaking it
is for me.

I keep reminding people to obey everything we need to do to stop this virus from spreading even further.
Remind, reiterate, reassure, repeat. There have been almost 200 cases in my community, 81 of which are active. And they
are still surging. I think it’s about time I figure that many civilians just don’t care.

Here I go again working to treat these patients. It is painful to see everyone’s tired faces. My co-worker and I
took a hasty break and she said, “I’m not sure whether to stay hopeful about our community or not anymore.” I sighed and
agreed.

After work, I headed to my home relatively early, which is so rare for us frontliners to be able to do but I am
glad I at least had the rest that I badly needed. My sister was surprisingly there inside the living room, along with her six-
year-old daughter, Hailey.

“We came to check up on you. I was concerned because you weren’t replying to my texts ever since last
week,” he said.

“Yeah, I feel stressed and all, but I’ll be fine. I hope.”

They stayed here for about an hour or so; we talked, munched on food, played with my niece. And before
leaving, Hailey walked up to me and whispered something I never thought I really needed until now, “I believe in you
Aunt Renae! Even if you don’t. You’re my favorite superhero next to Wonder Woman! Thank you for saving people
auntie!”

I chuckled a bit but almost shed a tear and after days of thinking, I’ve finally decided that I should continue
and not give up. There was this strict campaign that I thought of along with my co-workers about two months ago to
encourage our community and take this seriously but sadly it failed because of so many rebellious and bigoted people
here. But now, I am not letting everyone down. I’ve convinced my family, friends, co-workers, health experts, advocates
and I to relaunch the campaign. We talked to government officials, made sure we took extreme caution and be obedient to
follow COVID-19 safety and health regulations. We worked laboriously yet cautiously in the nearby park to encourage,
inform, and advise the public. Posters and guidelines were attached everywhere, mics were loud and clear, expressing
voices of concerns, donations and distributions of face masks, face shields, PPEs, disinfectants, medicines, and other
essential supplies were made to the public. We also had to imposed stricter measures to certain areas and teach other
people lessons.

One moment though, this person whom I knew was acting defiant along with a few other people with no face
masks on.

“Yet look at me! I’m not even wearing a mask and I feel perfectly fine! This is just a waste of time and a
secret agenda,” Mr. Lopez said. I felt frustrated to see people like him who are still uncooperative despite millions of
dying and countless trying to help fight this pandemic. His companions started throwing things at us like fruits and face
masks, mocking us nonstop right after. I could already feel my blood boiling.
 I heaved a long breath and boldly remarked, “Mr. Lopez, we have continuously repeated and will continue to
repeat everything we are doing right now just for the sake of your lives. We are trying to help and save lives because this
virus is no joke, and I am certain you are indeed a fool by now.”

He and his sheep left.

After weeks of constant and intense perseverance to treat, inform, persuade, and change the mindset of my
community, we have successfully reduced the case per day by almost a hundred percent; even the protesters who were
with Mr. Lopez have obeyed. No death has been recorded for the past two and a half months now. Moreover, we have
encouraged people to wear masks and face shields, always wash their hands and disinfect, socially distance, and follow
safety measures and recommendations from medical experts and reputable medical organizations. I was beyond happy
and relieved.

A month later, one morning while I was working on being in-charge of the testing process that day and this
man came up to me telling me he was having symptoms of coughing, a high fever, loss sense of taste, fatigue, and a sore
throat. I had to immediately isolate and test him. His stature was tall, and he had brown hair, dark-skinned, looked like he
was in his forties with sunglasses and a cap covering his head. His presence somehow made me feel as if he was a familiar
lad.

And so I was right.

Results of the viral test were finally here after a couple of days. Mr. Lopez, the man who had the symptoms,
tested positive for COVID-19.

ELEMENTS OF A STORY Climax – Protesters and Mr. Lopez arguing and mocking
Renae’s campaign but backfiring after Renae boldly
CHARACTERS
remarks and her friends, co-workers, advocates, etc.
Protagonist – Dr. Renae continued with their goal.

Antagonist -COVID-19, Mr. Lopez, protesters Falling Action – Cases were greatly reduced because of

Dynamic characters – Hailey, protesters, other defiant her campaign and hard work. They changed the minds

people in the community and actions of the people in their community as well as
the protesters.
Static characters –sister of Renae, Renae, co-workers,
friends, health experts Resolution – Mr. Lopez ironically testing positive for the
coronavirus after being noticeably obstinate throughout
SETTING the story.

CONFLICT
Place – hospital, park, Renae’s house
Man vs. society
Time – day, night
Man vs. nature
Weather condition – sunny
THEME
Social condition – case spikes in Renae’s community The story is about staying hopeful, listening, trusting,
during COVID-19 and obeying to safety regulations/measures and our
medical experts during the pandemic instead of always
Mood/atmosphere – worried, hopeless (at first), believing one’s opinion.
courageous POINT-OF-VIEW

PLOT First person POV

MOOD
Exposition – Renae comes home very tired and wakes up
again to work distressed because of the lack of care and Reflective, hopeful, stressful
attention people give in her community despite the many Style
cases. Empathetic, informative

Rising action – Hailey, Renae’s niece encourages her to Tone

continue the campaign that she started. Serious, hopeful, reflective